1THE
ACTS
OF THE APOSTLES
WRITTEN BY
2LUKE
Acts 10 ©
1 An angel appears unto Cornelius the captain at Cæsarea as he fasted and prayed. 5 Commands him to send for Peter from Joppa, and to be instructed by him. 7 Who sends his servants. 9 In the meantime Peter is instructed by a vision of a linen cloth with all manner of beasts, clean as well as unclean, let down from heaven, and by speaking to him that the difference between Jews and Gentile was now taken away. 17 The servants of Cornelius come to Peter. 19 Who being warned by God goes with them towards Cæsarea. 24 Where Cornelius with his friends were assembled, and receives him with great reverence. 28 Peter relates what was revealed unto him by God. 30 Cornelius does likewise. 34 Peter preaches Christ to Cornelius and his family. 44 And they thereupon receive the Holy Ghost. 46 Speak with strange tongues. 47 And are baptized.
THERE was a certain man in 1Cæsarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the 2band called 3the Italian band,
A 4devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.
He saw 5in a vision evidentlya about 6the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.
And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, 7What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for 8a memorial before God.
And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:
He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.
And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;
And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.
¶On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter wentb up 9upon the housetop to pray about 10the sixth hour:
And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into 11a trance,
And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four 12corners, and let down to the earth:
Wherein were 13all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.
But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for Ic have never eaten any thing 14that is common or unclean.
And the voice spake unto him again the second time, Whatd God hath cleansed, that call not thou 15common.
This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.
Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate,
And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.
¶While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit 16said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.
Arisee17therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, 18doubting nothing: for I have sent them.
Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?
And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the 19nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear 20words of thee.
Then called he them in, and 21lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and 22certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.
And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and 23near friends.
And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and 24worshipped him.
But Peter took him up, saying, Standf up; I myself also am a man.
And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.
And he said unto them, Yeg know how that it is an 25unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one 26of another nation; buth God hath shewed me that I should not 27call any man common or unclean.
Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I 28was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?
And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting 29until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, 30a man stood before me ini bright clothing,
And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had 31in remembrance in the sight of God.
Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.
Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.
¶Then Peter opened his 32mouth, and said, Of a truth 33I perceive thatj God is 34no respecter of persons:
Butk in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
35The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, 36preachingl37peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
That word, I say, ye 38know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and beganm from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
Hown God 39anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for 40God was with him.
And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:
Himo God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen 41before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.
Andp he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained ofq God to be the Judge of 42quick and dead.
Tor him give all the prophets witness, thats43through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
¶Whilet Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost 44fell on all them which heard the word.
And they of 45the circumcision which believed were 46astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Foru they heard them speak 47with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
Canv any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
And 48he commanded them 49to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.